Tuesday, October 23, 2018

4 Ways to Take the Gym With You on the Road

If you travel a lot it can feel like it’s hard to keep up a regular exercise routine. Here are some of our favorite ways to make it easier.

Gyms like to push the idea that you need a lot of equipment to get fit. No three-way trap-tree? You’ll never be fit. The truth is you don’t actually need a lot.

Now, if you want to get really big and strong, you’ll need to lift big heavy weights. That’s not going to be possible on the road unless you’re going to hit up local gyms. Even my fairly meh powerlifting numbers are between four and six times the maximum hold back weight limit on a plane, so no packing barbells to get those kind of gains, either.

On the other hand, if you’re just looking to keep fit, and make sure you don’t backslide when you’re on the road, there’s a lot you can do.

A Lacrosse Ball or (If You Have Space) a Foam Roller ($7-35)

Recovery is an important part of any fitness program. You can’t go hell for leather week in, week out. If you’re only going on holiday for a week or two, then try and get your recovery time and vacation time to align.

Recovery time, however, doesn’t mean sit in a hammock and drink piña coladas all day. That’s not recovery for your muscles (or your poor battered liver, either). Recovery means active recovery: think, long walks, a gentle jog, some bodyweight exercises, and lots and lots of stretching.

You probably remember lots of the stretches from your high school gym days, but if you want to really get into the muscles and pain points, then a foam roller is the way to go.